In This Issue:

Young Hoosier Philanthropist - Lauren Howard

YP Ambassador Fall Orientation

Youth Philanthropy Trainings

National Service Academy

National Philanthropy Day

Colts Young Playmakers Challenge

Big Brothers Big Sisters School-Based Mentoring Impact Study

Karma Tycoon

Young Hoosier Philanthropist - Lauren Howard
Lauren Howard is a very involved and articulate youth and a wonderful example of a young Hoosier Philanthropist.  She wants to be a lawyer and currently serves as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in the YMCA’s Youth and Government program.  This Ben Davis High School senior is dedicated to helping people and her community.  She is a member of the Teen Leaders Club at the West District YMCA branch and spearheaded efforts to bridge a gap between special needs students and other 7^th and 8^th graders at her school.   Her project received a Youth as Resources grant for their End of the Year Bash .  As a volunteer with the YMCA, Lauren has devoted her time and energy to working with children with mental and physical disabilities and doing outdoor adventure activities such as rock climbing and canoeing with them.  While attending the YP Jam, she helped the YMCA West Branch receive a $500 Great Grants/Super Service award.  Her dedication and commitment to community good have earned her the title of Young Hoosier Philanthropist.

YP Ambassador Fall Orientation
Recommendations are now being accepted for the Youth Philanthropy Ambassadors fall orientation.  The training will be held Friday, September 21 , 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana.  YP Ambassadors will be equipped with valuable tools that will enable them to serve their local communities by promoting the concept of philanthropy among children, youth and young adults.  Thanks to our generous sponsors, this high-quality event is available for a nominal fee of $20.00 per participant.  Attendees will receive nearly $1,000 worth of resources to use across Indiana.  For more information, visit http://www.ypin.org/ambassadors.htm.

Youth Philanthropy Trainings
Youth philanthropy trainings are now available for foundations, youth-serving organizations, schools and faith-based organizations/congregations at a discounted rate.  While available, grant funding will subsidize a major portion of typical training costs, resulting in a fee of $30 per hour.  A sample of possible youth philanthropy training topics include:

   § Youth Philanthropy 101 (an overview of components of youth philanthropy)
   § Starting a Youth Philanthropy Initiative in Your Community
   § Integrating Philanthropy into Your Programs
   § Fund Development for Youth Philanthropy

Trainings are tailored to the needs of your organization.  For additional information about a training to fit your local community needs, contact Eileen Ryan at eryan@ypin.org or 317.630.5200.

National Service Academy
A bipartisan effort to create an undergraduate institution that will cultivate young leaders dedicated to public service is being discussed in Washington, D.C.  Modeled after the military service academies, the United States Public Service Academy (USPSA) would provide a four-year, federally-subsidized college education for about 5,000 students a year in exchange for a five-year commitment to public service in areas such as education, public health, law enforcement, non-profit organizations, and local, state and federal government. Daniel Kent, a Young Hoosier Philanthropist and Power of Children Awards recipient, was selected to serve on the USPSA National Youth Council and chair the Indiana Youth Advisory Council of the USPSA.  Daniel is seeking organizations to partner with while creating an advisory council composed of youth leaders who live all across Indiana.  If interested, contact Daniel at rrdkent@gmail.com.

National Philanthropy Day
National Philanthropy Day is November 15 and now is the time to begin planning.  This is a great opportunity to promote youth philanthropy in local communities.  Some things you might consider:

   § Ask the mayor to decree November 15 as Philanthropy Day in the community
   § Ask youth to write articles on how giving and serving has benefited them and their communities
   § Highlight youth who give and serve
   § Organize a service project where youth give their time, talent and treasure for the common good
   §  Have the library set up a philanthropy exhibit showcasing materials on giving and serving
   § Give Giving Game cards to students and promote the pay-it-forward concept and its value

Let us know what is planned in your community and we will highlight it in the E-Chronicle next month!

Colts Young Playmakers Challenge
The Indianapolis Colts, American Family Insurance and the Indiana Department of Education are once again sponsoring the Young Playmakers Challenge for middle schools across the state. Classrooms are asked to complete a community service project. One classroom will be chosen to receive a visit from Colts players in December. The registration deadline for schools to participate is September 7.    For additional information, go to http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=community_dynamic&id=147.

2008 State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant
With the generous support of the State Farm Companies Foundation, Youth Service America is offering the annual State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant for youth across the United States.  These grants of up to $1,000 support youth (ages 5-25), teachers or school-based service-learning coordinators in implementing service-learning projects for Global Youth Service Day 2008.  Questions?  Email goodneighbor@ysa.org.   Deadline: October 16, 2007

Teaching Kids to Give
It's never too early to get kids into the giving habit.  From an article by Elaine Gast for the Case Foundation, here are a few ideas on how to do it:

Dinner Table Giving
For kids of any age: Start a "Dinner Table Foundation," where you sit down as a family and collectively decide where your donation will go. As a family you can look at and discuss brochures from local area non-profits, explaining what each of them does, and then let them decide which organization they want to support and how much they want to give.

Giving Toys
With little kids, have a 'new toy' rule in your house.  Every time your child gets a new toy, encourage them to donate one that they no longer use.  Let them decide which toys to give away, and then together take the items to the Goodwill, making sure you explain the work of Goodwill and how other children and families benefit from your child’s gift.